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The Murkwode Reaving: A Bartram Humblefoot Story
From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about resisting evil and fighting for what you believe in.
Shambling from the depths of the Murkwode Fens comes a tale of courage, faith, and the unyielding nature of the human spirit. Bartram Humblefoot, Paladin of the Ancients, leads a contingent of Mumling regulars to retrieve a holy artifact from a ruined temple. Regrettably, the forces of darkness have other plans. War is coming, and the artifact would lend their evil disciples a great advantage. The dead are awakened, rising from death to secure the temple. Bartram must help his soldiers survive, retain their sanity, and recover the artifact, or all is lost.
The Murkwode Reaving explores duty versus desire, transformation through adversity, and the strength found in true faith. A compelling blend of dark fantasy and profound themes, fans Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldtree, and S. L. Rowland will find this story an immersive, gritty tale of hope and unity against the darkest odds.
Shambling from the depths of the Murkwode Fens comes a tale of courage, faith, and the unyielding nature of the human spirit. Bartram Humblefoot, Paladin of the Ancients, leads a contingent of Mumling regulars to retrieve a holy artifact from a ruined temple. Regrettably, the forces of darkness have other plans. War is coming, and the artifact would lend their evil disciples a great advantage. The dead are awakened, rising from death to secure the temple. Bartram must help his soldiers survive, retain their sanity, and recover the artifact, or all is lost.
The Murkwode Reaving explores duty versus desire, transformation through adversity, and the strength found in true faith. A compelling blend of dark fantasy and profound themes, fans Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldtree, and S. L. Rowland will find this story an immersive, gritty tale of hope and unity against the darkest odds.
79 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2022
1 person want to read
About the author
Russell Mickler
33 books17 followersRussell Mickler works as a technology consultant for small to mid-range businesses.
Over the years, he has written and co-authored several tech-related books.
Black Anvil Books is Mickler’s imprint for fantasy and serialized fiction works.
Over the years, he has written and co-authored several tech-related books.
Black Anvil Books is Mickler’s imprint for fantasy and serialized fiction works.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 9, 2023
A naïve would-be hero, a seasoned warrior, a halfling Paladin, and a religious ex-convict must face the darkest of dooms for their world...
**I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the author and Reedsy Discovery. Receiving a free copy did not in any way affect my review. This is an honest, spoiler-free review, and any opinions expressed within are solely my own.**
When four soldiers of Mumling enter the accursed Murkwode forest, the danger of their essential quest weighs heavily on them in every way.
Without sunlight for their paths, animals in the trees, and only their own fears to ponder, each man must face his own weakness, his own shortcomings, if their holy quest is to end in success.
But with supernatural specters waiting at every turn, and varying levels of faith in the gods who have sent them on a potential suicide mission, will this mismatched group of comrades make it out of the Murkwode alive?
When I started reading The Murkwode Reaving, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I wondered if I'd stumbled into The Hobbit fan fiction; namely the chapter where the Dwarves are desperately trying to find their way out of Mirkwood Forest after straying from the path. This book does have a halfling main character after all (a barefoot one and all), but trust me when I say this is no Bilbo Baggins, nor is this a cozy fantasy story.
I was blown away by the depth of emotion and deep life lessons that Mickler was able to incorporate in such a short, poignant tale.
Life, faith, and the overwhelming sense that all of us, no matter our past or even our planned-for future, is set on a course that doesn't matter.
The Murkwode Reaving has a couple very bleak moments where I found myself literally holding my breath as I read. I was shocked at the amount of growth these characters had to make in such a short time, but it was all very believable and even left me a bit emotional close to the end.
If you are a lover of classic, epic, light VS dark fantasy, then The Murkwode Reaving is a tale that I would strongly encourage as a must-read. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'll certainly be reading more.
**Trigger Warnings: Blood/Gore, Death, War Mentioned, Very Brief Moments of Profanity**
**I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the author and Reedsy Discovery. Receiving a free copy did not in any way affect my review. This is an honest, spoiler-free review, and any opinions expressed within are solely my own.**
When four soldiers of Mumling enter the accursed Murkwode forest, the danger of their essential quest weighs heavily on them in every way.
Without sunlight for their paths, animals in the trees, and only their own fears to ponder, each man must face his own weakness, his own shortcomings, if their holy quest is to end in success.
But with supernatural specters waiting at every turn, and varying levels of faith in the gods who have sent them on a potential suicide mission, will this mismatched group of comrades make it out of the Murkwode alive?
When I started reading The Murkwode Reaving, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I wondered if I'd stumbled into The Hobbit fan fiction; namely the chapter where the Dwarves are desperately trying to find their way out of Mirkwood Forest after straying from the path. This book does have a halfling main character after all (a barefoot one and all), but trust me when I say this is no Bilbo Baggins, nor is this a cozy fantasy story.
I was blown away by the depth of emotion and deep life lessons that Mickler was able to incorporate in such a short, poignant tale.
Life, faith, and the overwhelming sense that all of us, no matter our past or even our planned-for future, is set on a course that doesn't matter.
The Murkwode Reaving has a couple very bleak moments where I found myself literally holding my breath as I read. I was shocked at the amount of growth these characters had to make in such a short time, but it was all very believable and even left me a bit emotional close to the end.
If you are a lover of classic, epic, light VS dark fantasy, then The Murkwode Reaving is a tale that I would strongly encourage as a must-read. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'll certainly be reading more.
**Trigger Warnings: Blood/Gore, Death, War Mentioned, Very Brief Moments of Profanity**
Displaying 1 of 1 review